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Greek court suspends ERT broadcaster closure Greece court orders state broadcaster ERT back on air
(about 3 hours later)
A Greek court has suspended a government order to close state broadcaster ERT - a move that triggered mass protests in the country last week. A Greek court has ordered that state broadcaster ERT, which was shut down by the government last week, can resume transmissions.
The top administrative court said ERT could resume transmission until a new national media body is set up. However, the court also upheld a plan by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras to replace ERT with a smaller broadcaster.
The ruling came as Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and his coalition allies held crisis talks on the issue. The ruling came as Mr Samaras and his coalition partners - furious that they had not been consulted about ERT's closure - held crisis talks.
Mr Samaras, who says ERT is corrupt, had reportedly offered to restart a trimmer version of the broadcaster. The prime minister's decision triggered mass protests across the country.
On Monday, the court - the Council of State - upheld Mr Samaras's plan to replace ERT with a new broadcaster later this year but backed the position of the other coalition partners that the signal must be restored in the interim. The leading party in the governing coalition, the conservative New Democracy, said last Tuesday that ERT suffered from chronic mismanagement, lack of transparency and waste.
It ordered the government to restart ERT broadcasts on a temporary basis. It shut the broadcaster down with the loss of nearly 2,700 jobs. Viewers saw TV screens go black as the signal was switched off.
The case was brought by ERT's union in an attempt to block Mr Samaras's surprise move. Greece's top administrative court - the Council of State - upheld Mr Samaras's plan to replace ERT with a new broadcaster later this year but backed the position of the other coalition partners that the signal must be restored in the interim.
The court's verdict increases pressure on Mr Samaras to row back, reports the BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens. The case was brought by ERT's union in an attempt to overturn Mr Samaras's surprise move.
Each side will claim victory, he adds, but in the end the unity of the government has been badly weakened. The BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens says each side will claim victory, but in the end the unity of the government has been badly weakened.
Mr Samaras had suggested a new, leaner, cheaper broadcaster would be established within weeks and he proposed hiring a small team to produce news programmes in the interim. During talks, Mr Samaras had suggested a new, leaner, cheaper broadcaster would be established within weeks and he proposed hiring a small team to produce news programmes in the interim.
But this idea was rejected by his two coalition partners - Evangelos Venizelos of Pasok and Fotis Kouvelis of the Democratic Left.But this idea was rejected by his two coalition partners - Evangelos Venizelos of Pasok and Fotis Kouvelis of the Democratic Left.
After the emergency talks ended, Mr Venizelos said they would meet again on Wednesday to discuss a cabinet reshuffle. "The court decision is essentially in line with what we've said: no one has the right to shut down national radio and television and turn screens black," said Mr Kouvelis after the emergency talks ended.
Mr Kouvelis said all ERT channels must reopen immediately following the court ruling. Mr Venizelos said they would meet again on Wednesday to discuss a cabinet reshuffle.
The row has threatened to topple the government and force Greece - which is struggling to pay its huge debts - into fresh elections. An official from New Democracy said the ruling affirmed the government's position that ERT had been scrapped.
The row has threatened to topple the government and force Greece into snap elections, triggering political turmoil with implications for the whole eurozone.
ERT workers celebrated outside the broadcaster's headquarters after hearing the court ruling.ERT workers celebrated outside the broadcaster's headquarters after hearing the court ruling.
"I've been here seven nights and this is the first time I've seen people smile," said reporter Eleni Hrona."I've been here seven nights and this is the first time I've seen people smile," said reporter Eleni Hrona.
However, our correspondent says there is also the recognition that later this year many will lose their jobs as a new, leaner national broadcaster is formed. However, our correspondent says there is also the recognition that later this year many will lose their jobs as a smaller broadcaster is formed.
Meanwhile, as coalition leaders went into talks, the main opposition party Syriza held a rally in Athens' Syntagma Square to demand early elections.Meanwhile, as coalition leaders went into talks, the main opposition party Syriza held a rally in Athens' Syntagma Square to demand early elections.